Maine has a reputation as an expensive coastal state, but that is really only true of the southern coast and the Portland metro. Inland and in the larger inland cities, Maine is genuinely affordable. After three decades covering Maine, here is an honest look at where the value is.
The cheapest places to live in Maine are its inland cities and rural areas – Lewiston-Auburn, Bangor, Waterville, and Augusta offer the best balance of affordability and amenities, while rural central and northern Maine (including Aroostook County) have the lowest housing costs overall. The expensive Maine you hear about is mostly the southern coast and Portland. Each area is covered below.
1. Lewiston-Auburn
Lewiston-Auburn is the best value overall in Maine. Maine’s second-largest urban area offers real amenities – healthcare, jobs, and a revitalizing downtown – at housing costs far below Greater Portland, which is about 40 minutes south. The best balance of affordability and access to work in the state. See our Living in Lewiston-Auburn guide.
2. Bangor
Bangor is the most affordable larger city. As the hub of northern and central Maine, Bangor gives you a real city’s services – healthcare, shopping, an airport, jobs – at a cost of living well below the southern coast. The best choice if you want city amenities without southern-Maine prices. See our Living in Bangor guide.
3. Waterville
Waterville is the best affordable small city. Central Maine’s Waterville pairs low housing costs with a downtown being revitalized by Colby College’s investment, plus regional healthcare and education jobs. Affordable, and on the way up. See our Living in Waterville guide.
4. Augusta
Augusta is the most affordable place with stable jobs. The state capital combines central-Maine affordability with Maine’s largest concentration of government jobs – a rare pairing of low cost of living and steady, benefits-rich employment. See our Living in Augusta guide.
5. Biddeford
Biddeford is the most affordable option near Portland. Once purely a mill town, Biddeford has revitalized while staying more attainable than Portland’s wealthier suburbs – and it is only about 20-30 minutes south of Portland, with beaches nearby. Note that its rising popularity has pushed costs up in recent years. See our Living in Biddeford guide.
6. Rural Central & Northern Maine
Rural Central & Northern Maine is the cheapest places to live in Maine. Away from the coast and the Portland metro – towns across central Maine, the Bangor region, and Aroostook County – offer the lowest housing costs in the state. The tradeoff is fewer jobs and services, best suited to remote workers, retirees, or those with work already lined up.
Understanding Maine’s Cost of Living
The single biggest factor in Maine affordability is distance from the southern coast. Portland and its suburbs, plus the coastal towns from Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor, carry the state’s highest housing costs – often double the inland average. Move 30-60 minutes inland and prices drop sharply. The tradeoff is jobs: the coast and Portland metro have the most work, so the cheapest areas often mean a longer commute or remote work. For an honest breakdown of where the jobs are, see our guide to the best places to live in Maine for jobs.
For remote workers, Maine’s affordability equation changes completely: with an out-of-state income, the cheaper inland towns – and even quality-of-life spots like the smaller lakes and mountain communities – become very attainable, since you are not dependent on local wages.
Cheapest Places to Live in Maine: FAQ
What is the cheapest place to live in Maine?
The cheapest places to live in Maine are its rural inland areas – central Maine, the Bangor region, and Aroostook County – which have the lowest housing costs in the state. Among cities with real amenities and jobs, Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor offer the best affordability.
Is Maine expensive to live in?
Only parts of it. The southern coast and the Portland metro are genuinely expensive, but inland Maine – Lewiston-Auburn, Bangor, Waterville, Augusta, and the rural areas – is quite affordable. Maine’s reputation for high costs comes mostly from its coastal and Portland-area real estate.
Where is the best affordable place to live in Maine with jobs?
Lewiston-Auburn offers the best balance of low cost and job access, with Portland about 40 minutes away. Bangor is the most affordable larger city with a real job market, and Augusta pairs affordability with stable government employment.
See also our best places to live in Maine for jobs, guide to moving to Maine, and Maine relocation incentives. MaineGuide.com has been Maine’s resource guide since 1995.
Job hunting? Browse current jobs in Maine’s most affordable cities: Lewiston, Bangor, Waterville, and Augusta on JobsInMaine.
Maine employer hiring? Reach local Maine candidates directly — post a job on JobsInMaine.com, Maine’s job board since 1997.
More Maine relocation guides: Best Places for Jobs · Best for Families · Best Places to Retire · Pros and Cons of Moving · Best for Remote Workers